LOL - I knew I'd stimulate that 'Oh no it isn't!' backlash. I was being a bit mischevious with my earlier comment - not really criticising the poem as such. Perhaps I suffer from the same deep rooted anxieties but am in denial.

Yes - there is a period in the woman's cycle when she is let us say 'more receptive' - I've never been more creative during that time though - but then again, I've never had period pains or PMT. We are all gloriously different I think so I intend to keep on shagging till I'm 90 - and no-one is going to persuade me otherwise...

Without disagreeing with anyone else, I have to agree with Laura here regarding the main thing about this poem which is its absolute honesty and courage in facing reality. Something which is priceless and too rarely found in life. What it does with words is pretty striking in places too. One to remember.

I worry about losing hair and erections, though not in that order. And I write poems about it. But I only enter them in the Men Only Poetry Competitions.
I like the poem, except I found some of the word formulation a bit tortuous:
"the lure of skin live without"

for example. Is it such a taboo subject, though? My missus and her mates seem to talk about little else.Though I can't say I'm familiar with this 3 days of fuck-everything madness.

I think Isobel is prob right, its how you feel inside, but hey I am a mere man.

"Can I sail through the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
I don’t know
Well I’ve been afraid of changing ‘cause I
Built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older, I’m getting older too"

I don't find it depressing in the slightest. I find it blindingly honest and courageous, the way it examines all of the things women DO worry about (most, probably all, can't speak for all etc), but no one talks about for fear of being labelled 'old lady' or that horrible 'dried up old bag' insult. The ovulation reference - again, no one talks about this...the time when you are pretty much 'on heat'. Let's be honest here - it feels fantastic when you're in that stage, doesn't it? Albeit all-consuming hehe ;) Tell you another thing about the ovulation period - that's when my mind is sharpest, when I have my best ideas, when EVERYTHING works and falls into place beautifully - so it's not just the loss of the 'wanna fuck everything in sight' aspect, it's the loss of the potentially best ideas and thinking you have.

The silence surrounding perimenopause and menopause comes from this taboo - that you can't possibly mention the loss of libido that may come from cessation of ovulation. I would love to see a poem written by a man which discusses the pros/cons of ageing, from a male perspective, with THIS much honesty, and without comedy to lighten the taboo. The best poetry, for me, strips all the bullshit away, and gives it to us BAM in the guts.

The poem ACCEPTS ultimately that this is happening...that nature cannot be denied no matter how much you want to, that it must be faced head on, to meet what is going to happen with dignity, self-knowledge, and acceptance.

I absolutely LOVE this piece, have to say. It's my favourite of Petrova's so far - blew me away at the Tudor. And so well performed, too.

I find this a bit of a depressing one. I wonder if men worry about losing hair and erections. If they do, they don't seem to write about it.

I think you're as old and as sexy as you feel inside. The menopause and hormonal changes will only define us if we allow them to. There is life after most things - but maybe I'm too much of an optimist!